Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Hi Everyone--seems like lots of good news--negative BRCA tests, CT scans, etc. And some of you moving onto the next phase of treatment--either new chemo drug, rads, or recon. Having just got through my Taxotere experience, please IM me if you want to know how it was for me and what helped. Interesting that one of your doctors said it was the least likley to cuse neuropathy--not what I was told. Lean--Bless your heart: working 4 hours and small kids on Taxotere.

As for me, I am 8 days past my last Taxotere/Cytaxin, and it was a very rough week! I am finally emerging from the fog--still not myself, but getting there. My stomach is improving, but not back to normal. I lost 6 pounds in the last week. Yay for the weight loss, but not the way I'd want to do it again. Anyway,  I'll use that as a jumpstart with a much -needed loss! Hope everyone enjoys their Easter holiday. Take care!

bubbalu:  Don't know if I'm "official" yet until I meet with onc on 13th - I did 2 A/C out of 4 (my tumour showed no response) and then 4 taxotere.  If onc decides to hit me with another 2 rounds of Taxotere, I'll take it - might as well give it everything we've got!!  Meet with surgeon on 20th to discuss options and surgery date.  Just want to get through rads before summer runs out and I miss all the time at my cottage!  Yes, keep chugging water (energy drinks are apparently good too).  Take any pain meds - don't suffer.  Appetite should be back soon - usually crappy mouth taste goes away within a few days, at least it did with me.  Don't forget to rinse mouth with baking soda/water or Biotene (I used that - great stuff - no mouth sores and freshens mouth for you).  Try lemon in your water (or maybe even lime) - a little easier to take than straight water all the time. 

1marmalade1:  You know one of the nurses told me not to take any Vit C. or Vit E and not to drink any herbal tea.  What gives with that?  She said they don't know the effect herbs might have on the chemo.  All the good stuff has antioxidants and vitamins and ginsing, especially cold green tea with ginsing.  There's something about lemon that I can't tolerate thru this.  If I have it in any form the taste stays in my mouth for days.  And I love lemon.  I'll have to get some Biotene, right now I'm using salt water rinses at bedtime.  What kind of energy drinks?  Thanks for all the good tips!  I agree with you if it's 2 more needed go for it.  I just hope my surgeon doesn't go on a long summer vacation I want it in July so I can get the rads done in time to go to Bar Harbor ME in Oct.  That's my long term goal.

Hi Mom2bnegative,

I'm doing my 4th Taxol on Tuesday (weekly) and they do not give me meds before or the day of.  I get all my pre-Taxol meds during the infusion - benedryl, steroid, pepsid, etc. prior to the Taxol.  The only thing I'm doing now is the Neupogen shots trying to rebuild my white blood cell count.  Ask what the meds are for and why you take them -- I'm assuming they are the anti-nausea, steroids that I'm getting in the iv plus anything you might personally need.

Bubbalu - the reason for the anti-oxidants is that the chemo works as an oxidizing agent and any vitamins - like C and A - can work against the chemo.  Green Tea is also anti-oxidizing.  Why go through the chemo drill (and all the SEs) if something you eat or drink can mitigate it working 100%?  I figure all that stuff will be great for me after chemo to help me rebuild and stay strong and healthy.

I'm so happy for all of you who are moving on from the chemo part of this treatment.  I still have 9 more weeks on Taxol to go.  I'm cherishing Tuesday, June 1st because that's my last chemo day.  As soon as my white count is up, my bronchitis totally gone, I'm going to go back to work part-time.  I miss it and feel like I've been gone a long, long time.  We have Friday's off from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so I'm figuring 2-1/2 days of work a week through the summer (rads every day in July and most of August).  I can do that!

It's a quiet Easter morning at my house - but my 3 year old grandson will be up soon and we'll be looking for those dyed eggs the Easter Bunny left - then dressed, church, brunch and he'll be off with his Uncle to another party and I'll be taking a nap!  My husband and I are going on a date today - so, I'm getting dressed up, putting on Colleen (the wig) and going out for dinner.  It's a beautiful morning here.

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday and a blessed week!

Hugs, Pat

I find out tomorrow when my surgery date is.  My mom made it up from Florida.  She'll be helping out.  My sciatic nerve is acting up for some reason.  I get shooting pains in my hip and leg whenever I sit or stand up.  Once I'm there, I'm fine.  I honestly can't remember the last time I had a day where I felt even just ok.  But its pretty sad because I'll take the sciatic deal over the never ending flu feeling. 

Oh well, had a good Easter.  Ate too much food.  I seriously need to get back to eating better. 

Good luck to everyone with chemo this week and congrats to those that have rounded the corner. 

Been keeping up with everyone.  Just frustrated with this whole chemo thing and my last visit with my doctor.  I really like him, but he changed the plan and it frustrated me.  My last AC made me so depressed!  Not sure why!  Today my hubby surprised me by telling me he is taking me to Kauai for spring break on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait to shop in an American grocery store!  I know most of you are probably thinking, "She's thinking about shopping in Hawaii?!!!!"  Yep!  It's the closest thing to the US for me and my hubby didn't think I could take a flight to the States.  Only 7 hours to Hawaii, so it's do-able!  Just had to share my great news!

Congratulations Grace.  Hope you have a great time.  Its normal to have depressive episodes any time during this process, but it will happen toward the end and even after which I don't think people are always expecting.  You feel like you should be ecstatic being done, but emotions start to come out, especially if everything from your dx went fast and sent you into one foot in front of the other mode.  Anyway, let go and have a great time, Grace.

I'm getting nervous waiting to meet with the surgeon and my hip is killing me but the sun is shining.

vegas:  sorry to hear about your wig  .  I was really careful with the oven but could have kicked myself when I sat in front of the woodstove with the door open looking in.  But it happens and all you can do is laugh.

Was finally making my way out of the woods from the intense Taxotere SEs when I had a Zometa infusion. Was hit with fever, chills and flu like symptoms....apparently there is a first dose syndrome from Zometa. They don't expect it again and I'm infused only once every six months with this drug.

Not sure it is relevant but since someone asked - with Taxotere they doubled the steroids dose. Took Dexamethasone the day before, the day of, and the day post-chemo. The crash off the steroid was a little rough...physically and emotionally. The onc explained that the steroid (in this case) was to control the bone and muscle pain and prevent the "allergic type" SEs. It was not for nausea as this is usually not an issue with Taxotere. I did not take Emend as for the FEC doses but did take the Neulasta.

My eyebrows and eyelashes have thinned out considerably and not quite symmetrically! I did not think this would happen to me...or I would have been more attentive about learning how to pencil eyebrows at the Look Good Feel Better class. Oh well!

I was able to enjoy the Easter weekend. Had a good Easter family dinner at my cousin's house and my sense of taste was at least partially there. The weather was spectacular...sunny and warm and at least a whole month off from what is "normal" for here. No Easter egg hunt in the snow this year and they were able to grill the Ham and lamb on the BBQ! Will enjoy it while it lasts.

This week is for recovery before my dose of Tax next week. I need to stock my fridge and do some cooking in advance! 

It is still weeks away, but I am really looking forward to the end of chemo. If there are post-chemo blues...I'm planning to combat it with some summer fun, easing back to work and getting myself in better physical shape. I look frightful now!      

I hope everyone had a nice Easter!

I had my 3rd Taxol today and the nurse tried to use a little vain instead of just going for the big one that is begging for it and well I always wondered how I would know somehting was wrong with my IV- well I found out today.  I nearly jumped out of the seat when she started my saline.  Any how she went back the the big vein and all went well.

Tomorrow I plan to go to work because Wed is when my SE start- which aren't that bad.  I love not being as tired as I was on AC.

Here's a question- Sex Drive.  I'm lacking and it's painful- any suggestions.......before my husband loses it.LOL  I am going through menopause- in case you couldn't guess.  I'm just glad my husband is still interested after the 20lb weight gain and hair loss!  Is anyone have any knowledge about menopause in the way it happens for us during chemo?  Is it different than normal menopause- I thought I heard it's a little harsher?

Well sweet dreams girls!

Hey dgirl,

Sorry you have to be here but so glad you found us. I, too am finding that everyone else is ready to get on with their lives after I finish chemo. Excuse me for having cancer, I'll just get out of your way now.

Okay, rant over. I've just completed #5 of 6 TCH and except for the fatigue and slight nausea I feel okay. I'll be looking at six weeks of radiation and a year of Herceptin after the last TCH. Please feel free to send a private message if you want to compare notes . . . believe me, I've got nothing to hide!

I wAS going to aske about the sex drive myslef. I want it but we just can't do it. He has seen me bald, he helps me cleam my boobs after my surgery but I am just as dry as a well just dry. What do you grls do?  want it cause I know it will help both of us but what to do??

Hi Girls--no sex drive here either! i have absolutel no interest--yes chemopause has a lot to do with it, but I think the stress of everything has a part in it too. DH are going away this weekend about a 5 our drive--for a funeral, not romantic, but we'll be away,in a romantic California wine country inn--and maybe??????

Hi all,

 Sex drive - none for me either.  And, yes, post-menopause you get a whole lot drier than you were - so, I was already needing KY jelly lubricant - which works pretty darn good.  The problem now is that my head hits the pillow and - pow - I'm asleep!  My DH winds down watching tv in bed and then.... But, when you're already snoring...nothing much happens. I need to find deliberate time when we can get intimate (I also have that 3 year old in the house - makes life less spontaneous).  We've done that a couple times through this - but that's it.  Would like it to be different - but I just don't have the energy right now.

Had my 4th Taxol today.  My white and red blood cells are up, my bronchitis is clearing (but still a little bit there, so that's worrisome), and I won't need Neupogen this week - maybe next week.

I'm off to the Look Good Feel Good (3rd try) to get some stuff with which to draw back my eyebrows.  It's hard giving my husband the alluring eye, when the image looks like the sister of Six Flags Parks bald guy mascot.

Ciao!

Pat

Woke up with a bladder infection this morning, so now I'm on antibiotics. Doesn't help with generating an amorous mood!

Issymom--one ste closer. I am walking about a 1 1/2 mile daily and will kick it up to 3 miles next week for my training for the 3-day.

LRG:  sorry to hear you have a UTI.  Always fun to have extra crap to deal with.  I kept getting yeast infections from the anitbiotics.   Between the chemopause and that, sex is such a far off concept.  Bleh